Protective case for fan

ABSTRACT

A protective case for fan includes a case body having a closed bottom portion and a sidewall portion extended along a periphery of the bottom portion, so that a receiving space is defined between the bottom and sidewall portions. A case cover can be closed onto an open top of the receiving space to seal the same. Two first raised ribs are formed on the closed bottom portion adjacent to two opposite sides thereof, such that first retaining portions are defined between the sidewall portion and faces of the first raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and second retaining portions are defined on another faces of the first raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion. By providing the first and second retaining portions, the same protective case can be conveniently used to stably pack differently sized fans to save the manufacturing cost of the protective case.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective case for fan, and more particularly to a protective case having a case body internally provided with first and second retaining portions, so that the same protective case can be conveniently used to stably pack differently sized fans and the cost of manufacturing differently sized protective cases can be saved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Thanks to the prosperously developed electronic industry, various kinds of electronic elements now have upgraded performance to provide faster and faster computing and operating speed. Chipsets for different electronic elements provide constantly increased computing speed and the number of chips included in different chipsets also increases constantly. However, heat produced by the chips during the operation thereof also increases with the increased number of chips. The produced heat must be timely removed from the electronic elements to avoid adverse influences on the performance thereof, such as slowed processing speed, burned-out or failed electronic elements. Therefore, heat dissipation has become a very important issue in the electronic industry. Among others, a fan has been widely adopted as a heat dissipating device to remove the heat produced by the operating electronic elements.

Generally, the fan is subject to invasion by dust and foreign matters in the process of transporting, handling, or selling the fan. The invaded dust and foreign matters would inevitably move from the operating fan to different electronic elements, resulting in short circuit and burnout of the electronic elements. To solve the problems caused by the dust-invaded fan, a protective case for fan has been developed.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B. A conventional protective case for fan includes a case cover 10 and a case body 12. The case body 12 internally defines a receiving space 121 for receiving a fan 14 therein. A space 16 between an inner wall surface of the case body 12 and an outer periphery of the fan 14 is reserved in the receiving space 121 to facilitate easy and convenient positioning of the fan 14 into the receiving space 121 in the case body 12. The case cover 10 can be closed onto an open top of the case body 12 to seal the receiving space 121.

Most of currently available fans can be generally divided into two types according to their sizes, namely, large-size fans and small-size fans. Before packing a fan 14 in the case body 12, an operator has to verify first whether the fan 14 being handled is a large-size fan or a small-size fan. In the event of a large-size fan, the operator has to select a corresponding large-size case body 12 for packing the large-sized fan 14. Then, the fan 14 is moved toward the case body 12 until the fan 14 is positioned on a bottom of the receiving space 121. Finally, the case cover 10 is closed onto the case body 12.

In the event of a small-size fan, the operator has to select a corresponding small-size case body 12 for packing the small-size fan 14. Then, the fan 14 is moved toward the case body 12 until the fan 14 is positioned on a bottom of the receiving space 121. Finally, the case cover 10 is closed onto the case body 12.

Therefore, while the conventional protective cases can effectively protect the fans against invasion by dust and foreign matters, the conventional protective cases must be manufactured into at least two different sizes separately for packing the large-size and the small-size fans. It requires increased cost to manufacture differently sized protective cases, and it is troublesome for an operator to verify and select a correctly sized protective case each time a fan is to be packed.

Moreover, with the space 16 left in the receiving space 121 between the fan 14 and the case body 12, the fan 14 packed in the conventional protective case is not firmly held in place and tends to vibrate or shake during transportation or handling thereof. Therefore, the fan 14 is subject to displacement in and collision with the protective case and the case cover 10 is subject to loosening from the case body 12. In some worse conditions, the fan 14 is damaged in the protective case due to such vibration or shaking. Foam materials and other shock-absorbing materials have been used to stuff the reserved space 16, so as to prevent the fan 14 from damage caused by displacement in and collision with the case body 12. However, the stuffing brings other problems, such as increased overall weight of the packed fan and environmental pollution caused by discarded stuffing. In some cases the protective case is made of a transparent material and in the form of a hang card for displaying the fan packed therein for sale. The foam material or other shock-absorbing material stuffed in the protective case would no doubt have adverse influence on the aesthetic appearance of the fan being displayed in the protective case, making the fan less attractive to consumers.

In brief, the conventional protective case for fan has the following disadvantages: (1) requiring increased manufacturing cost; (2) causing inconvenience in packing fans; (3) failing to firmly hold the fan in place; and (4) having low applicability.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improved protective case for fan to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages in the conventional protective case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective case for fan that can be manufactured at reduced cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective case for fan that can provide enhanced locating effect to the fan packed therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective case for fan that can be conveniently used to pack differently sized fans.

To achieve the above and other objects, the protective case for fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a case body having a closed bottom portion and a sidewall portion connected to and extended along a periphery of the bottom portion, so that a receiving space is defined in the case body between the bottom portion and the sidewall portion. Two first raised ribs are formed on the closed bottom portion adjacent to a first set of two opposite sides thereof, such that a first retaining portion is defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the first raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and a second retaining portion is defined on another face of each of the first raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion.

By providing the first and second retaining portions, a fan packed in the protective case can be more stably held in place, and the same protective case can be conveniently used to pack differently sized fans to save the cost of manufacturing differently sized protective cases.

The protective case for fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a case body, a receiving space, and at least one set of two first raised ribs. The case body has a closed bottom portion and a sidewall portion connected to and extended along a periphery of the bottom portion. The receiving space is defined between the bottom portion and the sidewall portion, and has an open top portion opposite to the closed bottom portion. The two first raised ribs are formed on the closed bottom portion at a first set of two diagonally opposite corners thereof, and each of the first raised ribs includes a first and a second section located perpendicular to each other and adjacent to the sidewall portion, such that a first retaining portion is defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the first raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and a second retaining portion is defined on another face of each of the first raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion. By providing the first and second retaining portions, a fan packed in the protective case can be more stably held in place, and the same protective case can be conveniently used to pack differently sized fans to save the cost of manufacturing differently sized protective cases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional protective case for packing a fan therein;

FIG. 1B is an assembled view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a protective case for fan according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention with a first-size fan packed therein;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the protective case for fan according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with a second-size fan packed therein;

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a protective case for fan according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention with a first-size fan packed therein;

FIG. 9 is an assembled view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the protective case for fan according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention with a second-size fan packed therein;

FIG. 12 is an assembled view of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with some preferred embodiments thereof. For the purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in the preferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Please refer to FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7, in which a protective case for fan according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention applicable to packing of two differently sized fans is shown. In the illustrated first preferred embodiment, the protective case for fan of the present invention includes a case body 2 and a case cover 3. The case body 2 includes a closed bottom portion 21, an open top portion 22, and a sidewall portion 23 connected to and extended along a periphery of the bottom portion 21. The closed bottom portion 21 and the sidewall portion 23 together define a receiving space 24 therebetween for accommodating a fan 5 therein, and the case cover 3 is closed onto the open top portion 22 of the case body 2 to seal the receiving space 24 and accordingly protects the fan 5 in the receiving space 24 against dust and foreign matters.

The closed bottom portion 21 is provided adjacent to a first set of two opposite sides with two first raised ribs 211. That is, the two first raised ribs 211 are separately located at two opposite ends of the closed bottom portion 21. Spaces left between the sidewall portion 23 and one face of the first raised ribs 211 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two first retaining portions 25, which are sized for engaging with two opposite lower edges of a fan frame 51 of a larger fan 5, so that the faces of the first raised ribs 211 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are abutted on inner faces of the fan frame 51 at the two opposite lower edges. More specifically, there are two first retaining portions 25 adapted to firmly hold two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of a larger fan 5 therein. Meanwhile, another face of each of the first raised ribs 211 facing away from the sidewall portion 23 is defined as a second retaining portion 26, which is adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of a fan frame 51 of a smaller fan 5. That is, there are two second retaining portions 26 adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of the fan frame 51 of a smaller fan 5 at two opposite lower sides thereof.

The fan 5 can be generally divided into two types according to the size thereof, namely, a larger or first-size fan 52 being sized to 9 or 13 cm, and a smaller or second-size fan 53 being sized to 8 or 12 cm. Two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 can be correspondingly firmly engaged with and firmly held in the two first retaining portions 25, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. On the other hand, two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 can be correspondingly firmly abutted against the two second retaining portions 26, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The closed bottom portion 21 can be further provided adjacent to a second set of two opposite sides with two second raised ribs 212. That is, the two second raised ribs 212 are separately located at another two opposite ends of the closed bottom portion 21. Spaces left between the sidewall portion 23 and faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two third retaining portions 27, which are sized for engaging with another two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of the larger fan 5, so that faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are abutted on an inner face of the fan frame 51 of the larger fan 5 at another two opposite lower sides thereof. More specifically, the larger fan 5, that is, the first-size fan 52, is held in place in the receiving space 24 of the case body 2 by the first and the third retaining portions 25, 27 at the same time. Meanwhile, another faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing away from the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two fourth retaining portions 28, which are adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of the fan frame 51 of the smaller fan 5 at another two opposite lower sides thereof. Therefore, the smaller fan 5, that is, the second-size fan 53, is held in place in the receiving space 24 of the case body 2 by the second and the fourth retaining portions 26, 28 at the same time. More specifically, another two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 can be correspondingly firmly engaged with and firmly held in the two third retaining portions 27; on the other hand, another two opposite lower sides of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 can be correspondingly firmly abutted against the two fourth retaining portions 28.

Also referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the closed bottom portion 21 is further provided with a plurality of locating portions 214 and a receiving recess 217. The receiving recess 217 is arranged between the two opposite first raised ribs 211 for receiving a central area of the fan frame 51 of the fan 5. In other words, the receiving recess 217 is centered at the closed bottom portion 21 to locate between the two first raised ribs 211. More specifically, the receiving recess 217 is located between the two first raised ribs 211 and between the two second raised ribs 212. The locating portions 214 are angularly spaced along an outer periphery of the receiving recess 217 corresponding to a plurality of blades of the fan 5, including the first-size and the second-size fan 52, 53, so as to hold the blades in place in the case body 2.

The locating portions 214 each have a curved configuration 215, which includes a steep slope side 2151 and a gentle slope side 2152 that are located back to back. The gentle slope sides 2152 have a curvature matching that of the blades of the fan 5, such that, when the fan 5 has been fully positioned in the case body 2, the curved faces of the blades of the fan 5 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 to effectively assist in stably holding the fan 5 in the case body 2. A groove 216 is defined between the steep slope side 2151 and the gentle slope side 2152 that are separately located on any two adjacent locating portions 214 for correspondingly receiving an edge of the blade of the fan 5. The grooves 216 are communicable with the receiving recess 217.

In the receiving space 24, there are further included limiting spaces 241 defined between an inner face of the sidewall portion 23 and corners of the closed bottom portion 21 for receiving corners of the fan frame 51. The case cover 3 is closed onto the open top portion 22 of the case body 2 to seal the receiving space 24, so as to effectively prevent dust or foreign matters from entering into the receiving space 24. The case cover 3 is provided along a lower periphery with a downward extended flange portion 31 for correspondingly extending into the receiving space 24 to fitly abut on the inner face of the sidewall portion 23.

Please refer to FIGS. 2 to 7. To pack the first-size fan 52 in the case body 2, simply approach the first-size fan 52 toward the receiving space 24 of the case body 2, so that the first-size fan 52 passes through the open top portion 22 to the closed bottom portion 21. At this point, the lower sides of the fan frame 51 are engaged with the two first retaining portions 25 and the two third retaining portions 27 with the inner faces of the fan frame 51 at the lower sides thereof firmly abutting on the faces of the first and the second raised ribs 211, 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23. Meanwhile, the curved faces of the blades of the first-size fan 52 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 of the curved configurations 215 of the locating portions 214, preventing the blades from rotating in the receiving space 24 due to vibration or shaking, and the corners and the central area of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 are received in the limiting spaces 241 and the receiving recess 217, respectively. Then, approaches the case cover 3 toward the case body 2 and closes the case cover 3 onto the open top portion 22. At this point, the flange portion 31 of the case cover 3 is extended into the receiving space 24 to contact with the inner face of the sidewall portion 23, and the first-size fan 52 is immovably sealed in the received space 24.

Similarly, in the case of packing the second-size fan 53 in the case body 2, simply approach the second-size fan 53 toward the receiving space 24 of the case body 2, so that the second-size fan 53 passes through the open top portion 22 to the closed bottom portion 21. At this point, the outer faces of the fan frame 51 at the lower sides thereof are abutted on the two second retaining portions 26 and the two fourth retaining portions 28 on the first and the second raised ribs 211, 212. Meanwhile, the curved faces of the blades of the second-size fan 53 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 of the curved configurations 215 of the locating portions 214, preventing the blades from rotating in the receiving space 24 due to vibration or shaking, and the corners and the central area of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 are received in the limiting spaces 241 and the receiving recess 217, respectively. Then, approaches the case cover 3 toward the case body 2 and closes the case cover 3 onto the open top portion 22. At this point, the flange portion 31 of the case cover 3 is extended into the receiving space 24 to contact with the inner face of the sidewall portion 23, and the second-size fan 53 is immovably sealed in the received space 24.

Therefore, by providing the first and the second retaining portions 25, 26 on the closed bottom portion 21, either the first-size fan 52 or the second-size fan 53 can be stably packed in the case body 2. That is, the protective case according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has one size but can be used to pack two types of differently sized fans to thereby effectively save the time and labor needed to separately pack the fans 52 and 53 in two differently sized protective cases. Moreover, the one-size protective case for fan can be manufactured at reduced cost.

Please refer to FIGS. 8 to 10 and FIGS. 11 to 13, in which a protective case for fan according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention applicable to packing of two differently sized fans is shown. In the illustrated second preferred embodiment, the protective case for fan of the present invention includes a case body 2, a receiving space 24, at least one set of two first raised ribs 211, and a case cover 3. The case body 2 includes a closed bottom portion 21 and a sidewall portion 23 vertically connected to and extended along a periphery of the bottom portion 21. The receiving space 24 is formed between the closed bottom portion 21 and the sidewall portion 23 for accommodating a fan 5 therein, and has an open top portion 22 opposite to the closed bottom portion 21. The case cover 3 is closed onto the open top portion 22 to seal the receiving space 24 and accordingly protects the fan 5 in the receiving space 24 against dust and foreign matters. The two first raised ribs 211 are formed on the closed bottom portion 21 adjacent to a first set of two diagonally opposite corners thereof. Each of the first raised ribs 211 includes a first section 2111 and a second section 2112 extended closely along the sidewall portion 23, and the second section 2112 is connected to the first section 2111 at a right angle.

Spaces left between the sidewall portion 23 and faces of the first raised ribs 211 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two first retaining portions 25, which are sized for engaging with two diagonally opposite lower corners of a fan frame 51 of a larger fan 5, so that the faces of the first raised ribs 211 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are abutted on inner faces of the fan frame 51 of the larger fan 5 at two diagonally opposite lower corners thereof. More specifically, there are two first retaining portions 25 adapted to firmly hold two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 therein. Meanwhile, another face of each of the first raised ribs 211 facing away from the sidewall portion 23 is defined as a second retaining portion 26, which is adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of a fan frame 51 of a smaller fan 5. That is, there are two second retaining portions 26 adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of the fan frame 51 of the smaller fan 5 at two diagonally opposite lower corners thereof.

The fan 5 can be generally divided into two types according to the size thereof, namely, a larger or first-size fan 52 being sized to 9 or 13 cm, and a smaller or second-size fan 53 being sized to 8 or 12 cm. Two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 can be correspondingly firmly engaged with and firmly held in the two first retaining portions 25, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. On the other hand, two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 can be correspondingly firmly abutted against the two second retaining portions 26, as shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

The protective case for fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention can further include one set of two second raised ribs 212 formed on a second set of two diagonally opposite corners of the closed bottom portion 21. Each of the second raised ribs 212 includes a third section 2121 and a fourth section 2122 extended closely along the sidewall portion 23, and the fourth section 2122 is connected to the third section 2121 at a right angle.

Spaces left between the sidewall portion 23 and faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two third retaining portions 27, which are sized for engaging with another two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 of the larger fan 5, so that the faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23 are abutted on an inner face of the fan frame 51 of the larger fan 5 at another two diagonally opposite lower corners thereof. More specifically, the larger fan 5, that is, the first-size fan 52, is held in place in the receiving space 24 of the case body 2 by the first and the third retaining portions 25, 27 at the same time. Meanwhile, another faces of the second raised ribs 212 facing away from the sidewall portion 23 are defined as two fourth retaining portions 28, which are adapted to firmly abut on an outer face of the fan frame 51 of the smaller fan 5 at another two diagonally opposite lower corners thereof. Therefore, the smaller fan 5, that is, the second-size fan 52, is held in place in the receiving space 24 of the case body 2 by the second and the fourth retaining portions 26, 28 at the same time. More specifically, another two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 can be correspondingly firmly engaged with and firmly held in the two third retaining portions 27; on the other hand, another two diagonally opposite lower corners of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 can be correspondingly firmly abutted against the two fourth retaining portions 28.

Also referring to FIGS. 8 to 13, the closed bottom portion 21 is further provided with a plurality of locating portions 214 and a receiving recess 217. The receiving recess 217 is arranged between the two diagonally opposite first raised ribs 211 for receiving a central area of the fan frame 51 of the fan 5. In other words, the receiving recess 217 is centered at the closed bottom portion 21 to locate between the two first raised ribs 211. More specifically, the receiving recess 217 is located between the two first raised ribs 211 and between the two second raised ribs 212. The locating portions 214 are angularly spaced along an outer periphery of the receiving recess 217 corresponding to the blades of the fan 5, including the first-size and the second-size fan 52, 53, so as to hold the blades in place in the case body 2.

The locating portions 214 each have a curved configuration 215, which includes a steep slope side 2151 and a gentle slope side 2152 that are located back to back. The gentle slope sides 2152 have a curvature matching that of the blades of the fan 5, such that, when the fan 5 has been fully positioned in the case body 2, the curved faces of the blades of the fan 5 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 to effectively assist in stably holding the fan 5 in the case body 2. A groove 216 is defined between the steep slope side 2151 and the gentle slope side 2152 that are separately located on any two adjacent locating portions 214 for correspondingly receiving an edge of the blade of the fan 5. The grooves 216 are communicable with the receiving recess 217.

In the receiving space 24, there are further included limiting spaces 241 defined between an inner face of the sidewall portion 23 and any two adjacent first and second raised ribs 211, 212 on the closed bottom portion 21 for receiving peripheral edges of the fan frame 51. The case cover 3 is closed onto the open top portion 22 to seal the receiving space 24, so as to effectively prevent dust or foreign matters from entering into the receiving space 24. The case cover 3 is provided along a lower periphery with a downward extended flange portion 31 for correspondingly extending into the receiving space 24 to fitly abut on the inner face of the sidewall portion 23.

Please refer to FIGS. 8 to 13. To pack the first-size fan 52 in the case body 2, simply approach the first-size fan 52 toward the receiving space 24 of the case body 2, so that the first-size fan 52 passes through the open top portion 22 to the closed bottom portion 21. At this point, the lower corners of the fan frame 51 are engaged with the two first retaining portions 25 and the two third retaining portions 27 with the inner faces of the fan frame 51 at the lower corners thereof firmly abutting on the faces of the first and the second raised ribs 211, 212 facing toward the sidewall portion 23. Meanwhile, the curved faces of the blades of the first-size fan 52 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 of the curved configurations 215 of the locating portions 214, preventing the blades from rotating in the receiving space 24 due to vibration or shaking, and the peripheral edges and the central area of the fan frame 51 of the first-size fan 52 are received in the limiting spaces 241 and the receiving recess 217, respectively. Then, approaches the case cover 3 toward the receiving space 24 and closes the case cover 3 onto the open top portion 22. At this point, the flange portion 31 of the case cover 3 is extended into the receiving space 24 to contact with the inner face of the sidewall portion 23, and the first-size fan 52 is immovably sealed in the received space 24.

Similarly, in the case of packing the second-size fan 53 in the case body 2, simply approach the second-size fan 53 toward the receiving space 24 of the case body 2, so that the second-size fan 53 passes through the open top portion 22 to the closed bottom portion 21. At this point, the outer faces of the fan frame 51 at the lower corners thereof are abutted on the two second retaining portions 26 and the two fourth retaining portions 28 on the faces of the first and the second raised ribs 211, 212 facing away from the sidewall portion 23. Meanwhile, the curved faces of the blades of the second-size fan 53 bear on the gentle slope sides 2152 of the curved configurations 215 of the locating portions 214, preventing the blades from rotating in the receiving space 24 due to vibration or shaking, and the peripheral edges and the central area of the fan frame 51 of the second-size fan 53 are received in the limiting spaces 241 and the receiving recess 217, respectively. Then, approaches the case cover 3 toward the receiving space 24 and closes the case cover 3 onto the open top portion 22. At this point, the flange portion 31 of the case cover 3 is extended into the receiving space 24 to contact with the inner face of the sidewall portion 23, and the second-size fan 53 is immovably sealed in the received space 24.

In the present invention, the case body 2 can be made of a transparent or a translucent material, and a tab with a hanging hole can be extended from one side of the case body 2, so that the protective case for fan is in the form of a hang card (not shown), and the fan 5 packed in the protective case can be hung on a display stand for sale.

Therefore, by providing the first and the second retaining portions 25, 26 on the closed bottom portion 21, either the first-size fan 52 or the second-size fan 53 can be stably packed in the case body 2. That is, the protective case according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention has one size but can be used to pack two types of differently sized fans to thereby effectively save the time and labor needed to separately pack the fans 52 and 53 in two differently sized protective cases. Moreover, the one-size protective case for fan can be manufactured at reduced cost.

In brief, the protective case for fan according to the present invention has the following advantages: (1) enabling reduced manufacturing cost thereof; (2) providing enhanced locating effect to the fan packed in the protective case; (3) convenient for use; and (4) saving time and labor for packing the fan.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A protective case for a fan, comprising: a case body including a closed bottom portion and a sidewall portion connected to and extended along a periphery of the closed bottom portion; the closed bottom portion and the sidewall portion together defining a receiving space therebetween, and the closed bottom portion being provided adjacent to a first set of two opposite sides with two first raised ribs, locating portions located on the closed bottom, each location portion having a curved configuration which has a steep slope side and a gentle slope side located to a back of the steep slope; a first retaining portion being defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the first raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion; and a second retaining portion being defined on another face of each of the first raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion.
 2. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is engaged with and held in place by the first retaining portions.
 3. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is abutted on and held in place by the second retaining portions.
 4. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed bottom portion is provided adjacent to a second set of two opposite sides with two second raised ribs, a third retaining portion being defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the second raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and a fourth retaining portion being defined on another face of each of the second raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion.
 5. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is engaged with and held in place by the first and the third retaining portions.
 6. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is abutted on and held in place by the second and the fourth retaining portions.
 7. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed bottom portion is further provided between the two first raised ribs with a plurality of locating portions and a receiving recess, and the locating portions being angularly spaced along an outer periphery of the receiving recess.
 8. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locating portions each have the curved configuration, which includes the steep slope side and the gentle slope side located back to back, such that a groove is defined between the steep slope side and the gentle slope side that are separately located on any two adjacent locating portions; and the grooves being adapted to receive edges of blades of a fan packed in the case body and communicable with the receiving recess.
 9. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving space further includes limiting spaces defined between an inner face of the sidewall portion and corners of the closed bottom portion for receiving corners of a fan frame of a fan packed in the case body.
 10. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a case cover; and wherein the case body further includes an open top portion opposite to the closed bottom portion, and the case cover being closed onto the open top portion of the case body to seal the receiving space; and the case cover being provided along a lower periphery with a downward extended flange portion for correspondingly extending into the receiving space to fitly abut on an inner face of the sidewall portion.
 11. A protective case for a fan, comprising: a case body including a closed bottom portion and a sidewall portion perpendicularly connected to and extended along a periphery of the closed bottom portion, locating portions located on the closed bottom, each locating portion having a curved configuration which has a steep slope side and a gentle slope side located to a back of the steep slope; a receiving space being defined between the closed bottom portion and the sidewall portion, and having an open top portion opposite to the closed bottom portion; and at least one set of two first raised ribs being formed on the closed bottom portion at a first set of two diagonally opposite corners thereof, each of the first raised ribs including a first section and a second section adjacent to the sidewall portion, such that a first retaining portion is defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the first raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and a second retaining portion is defined on another face of each of the first raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion.
 12. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is engaged with and held in place by the first retaining portions.
 13. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is abutted on and held in place by the second retaining portions.
 14. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a set of two second raised ribs formed on the closed bottom portion at a second set of two diagonally opposite corners thereof, each of the second raised ribs including a third section and a fourth section adjacent to the sidewall portion, such that a third retaining portion is defined between the sidewall portion and one face of each of the second raised ribs facing toward the sidewall portion, and a fourth retaining portion is defined on another face of each of the second raised ribs facing away from the sidewall portion.
 15. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is engaged with and held in place by the first and the third retaining portions.
 16. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving space is adapted to receive a fan therein, such that the fan is abutted on and held in place by the second and the fourth retaining portions.
 17. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the closed bottom portion is further provided between the two first raised ribs with a plurality of locating portions and a receiving recess, and the locating portions being angularly spaced along an outer periphery of the receiving recess.
 18. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 17, wherein the locating portions each have the curved configuration, which includes the steep slope side and the gentle slope side located back to back, such that a groove is defined between the steep slope side and the gentle slope side that are separately located on any two adjacent locating portions; and the grooves being adapted to receive edges of blades of a fan packed in the case body and communicable with the receiving recess.
 19. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving space further includes limiting spaces defined between an inner face of the sidewall portion and any two adjacent first and second raised ribs on the closed bottom portion for receiving peripheral edges of a fan frame of a fan packed in the case body.
 20. The protective case for fan as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a case cover for closing onto the open top portion to thereby seal the receiving space, and the case cover being provided along a lower periphery with a downward extended flange portion for correspondingly extending into the receiving space to fitly abut on an inner face of the sidewall portion. 